Valve



July 7, 1936. J p LOFTUS ET AL 2,046,640

VALVE Filed Sept. 5, 1934 ,NVENTORS JQHN PATRICK- LOFTUS FRANK- REGINALD-CHESTER ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 7, 1936 VALVE John Patrick Loftus, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and Frank Reginald Chester,

Seattle, Wash.

Application September 5, 1934, Serial No. 742,790

' 2 Claims. (01. 137-139) Our invention relates to improvements in ball float valves which are particularly adapted for use in toilet tanks and the like. The objects of the invention are to provide hydrostatic means for closing the valve and a water cushion to prevent water hammer, further objects are to provide means whereby the operation of the valve will not be affected by extensive Wear of parts.

The invention consists essentially of a valve chamber fitted with a two piece plunger, wherein one of the pieces is actuated in advance of the other on the opening of the valve, as will be more fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the valve body with the cover plate removed.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

The numeral I indicates a valve body having a valve cylinder 2 and a concentric outlet passage 3 to which a discharge pipe 4 is fitted. An inlet pipe 5 communicates with the cylinder 2 through a port 6 in the peripheral wall of the body. Fitted within the cylinder 2 is a rubber valve .seat 1 which is substantially dome shaped. Slidably mounted in the cylinder is a plunger 8 formed of two pieces, viz: a valve 9 and a piston l0. The piston is bored axially to slidably receive the stem H of the valve 9 and is provided with a lower peripheral rebate l2, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. The valve stem H is fitted with a nut I 3 at its upper end by which the valve 9 is lifted oflz its seat in response to vertical movement of the piston ID.

The valve body l is enclosed by a cover plate [4 having a pair of hinge lugs 15 in which a ball arm [6 is pivotally mounted. A relief orifice l1 extends through the cover plate l4 and between the lugs I5. which is adapted to be closed by a valve plug l8 being forced down over it by a projection l9 extending below the ball arm.

Extending through the cover plate I4 is an adjustable stop 20, which serves to limit the upward movement of the piston l and the valve as may be desired, this stop is covered with a screw cap 2!.

A small pipe 22 communicates with the outlet passage 3 through a port 23, this pipe is adapted to discharge into the stand pipe in the toilet tank in the usual way and is adapted to supply water for sealing the toilet bowl trap during the time that the tank is being refilled.

The operation of the valve is as follows:-

When the ball arm I6 is lowered due to the emptying of the tank in which the valve is fitted, the water pressure within the cylinder forces the valve plug l8 upwards, permitting the pressure to be relieved through the orifice l1 from the top of the plunger. The pressure of the water from the pipe 5 which is exerted in an upward direction on the horizontal face of the rebate l2 of the piston ll] being then greater than that which is exerted downwardly onto the top of the piston, causes said piston to rise. During the initial lift of the piston, the pressure on the top of the valve 9 holds it closed, but as soon as the piston is raised into contact with the nut l3 of the valve stem H the valve 9 is lifted off its seat I by virtue of the fact that the total bottom area of the piston is greater than the top area of the valve.

The dimensions of the piston ID are such as to permit a substantial leak between its periphery 0 and the walls of the cylinder 2, and between the valve stem H and the bore of the piston, this leak being obviously less than through the relief orifice when its valve 3 is open.

{When the ball arm I6 is raised and the orifice 25 I! is closed in consequence, water flows ilpward- 1y, around the piston 10, tending to equalize the pressures through the cylinder 2, the initial pressure surplus being exerted to drive the piston l0 downwardly until the valve 9 is seated, immediately then pressure is relieved from the underside of the valve and is augmented above, holding it down upon its seat. As the leak past the piston is relatively slow, the valve 9 is retarded in its downward movement, so that no shock is developed in closing. As soon as the valve comes to rest the piston moves out of contact with the nut l3, thus allowing an upward flow of water between the piston I0 and the stem II which added to the flow between the piston and the cylinder walls increases the downward speed of the piston and allows its Weight to be added to the valve with some rapidity, thus definitely sealing the valve and preventing chatter or vibration. The seating of the piston upon the upper face of the valve 9 is cushioned by the water between them, so that no noise occurs during the final closing movement. The volume of water between the valve 9 and the plunger is subsequently transferred to the top of the cylinder 2 above the piston, as the said piston slowly sinks into contact again with the valve 9. During the discharge from the valve through the pipe 4 water also discharges upwards through the port outlet, a piston freely slidable within the cylinder between the discharge outlet, the inlet port and the relief valve, a stem having free sliding movement axially of the piston, said stem havinga member adapted to contactwith-the upper end of the piston as the piston is moving upwards in the cylinder and a valve atthe other adapted to close the discharge valve and to contact with the lower end of the piston as said piston reaches its lowermost limit in the cylinder. 7

2. A valve comprising a cylinder having a discharge outlet atone end, a relief valve at the other and. an inlet port adjacent the discharge 5 outlet, a piston freely slidable within the cylinder between the discharge outlet, the inlet port and the relief valve, a stem having free sliding movement axially of the piston, said stem having a member adapted to contact withthe upper end 10 of the piston as the piston is moving upwards in the cylinderand a valve at the other adapted to Y close the discharge valve and to contact with the lowerrend of the piston as said piston reaches its lowermost limit in the cylinder, said relief '15 valve being adapted to be opened in the diree- 1 tion of the water flow therethrough'.

' JOHN PATRICK LOFTUS.

FRANK REGINALD CHESTER. 

